We'll move now to a debate on the Welsh Language Commissioner's annual report for 2021-22. I call on the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language to move the motion. Jeremy Miles. 

Motion NDM8109 Lesley Griffiths

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Welsh Language Commissioner’s Annual Report 2021-22.

Motion moved.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. In opening this debate today and asking you to note the annual report of the Welsh Language Commissioner for the year 2021-22, there is of course an element of sadness as we remember Aled Roberts. Aled’s contribution as Welsh Language Commissioner during this period was very innovative and progressive, and set a firm foundation for the commissioner’s work. Even though his time as commissioner was cut short, there is no doubt that he left his mark on the post and on the Welsh language. As Welsh Language Commissioner, Aled took every opportunity to inspire and to support those who needed that support and guidance, and he was a strong advocate for Welsh speakers. He wasn’t afraid of challenging us as Ministers, and his enthusiasm, particularly for improving Welsh language planning, was obvious to everyone. On a personal level, Aled was a kind and honest individual, full of humour, and he was a huge loss to his family and his community. I’m sure that all of us remember Aled today as we discuss this annual report, and we remember his important contribution.

I’m very grateful to Gwenith Price, deputy Welsh language commissioner, for leading the organisation so effectively since February. It’s been a very difficult time for the staff, but I’m very grateful to Gwenith and the staff as a whole for ensuring that the work of the commissioner has continued without interval. It’s also important to note my thanks to the members of the advisory panel and the audit and risk committee for supporting Gwenith.

It's now an opportunity for us to look forward, and in that regard, the First Minister has already announced that Efa Gruffudd Jones has been appointed as Welsh Language Commissioner. Efa will start as commissioner on 9 January. The Welsh language has been at the heart of Efa’s career, as former chief executive of the Urdd for 12 years, and now as chief executive of the National Centre for Learning Welsh for six years. She has a vast amount of experience of supporting Welsh speakers, of attracting new speakers and of working towards increasing the use of the Welsh language. I look forward to working with Efa to ensure greater opportunities for Welsh speakers and those learning the language to use the Welsh language, and to collaborate on that wider aim of increasing use of the Welsh language.

The Welsh Language Commissioner has an important role as a regulator, and also in terms of implementing 'Cymraeg 2050'. As an advocate for Welsh issues, it's important that the commissioner challenges the Government and other public bodies from time to time to ensure progress and continuous improvement in terms of people's engagement with organisations and the Welsh language. The annual report takes us on a journey through the work of the commissioner, noting the highlights as to what has been achieved with regard to issues such as rights, influencing policy, developing infrastructure and promoting the use of the Welsh language by businesses and charities. 

I'm very pleased to see some examples in the report of where the commissioner's work of enforcing standards has led to improvements in the services that people receive. For me, that's a vital element of the commissioner's work. We have to look at the standards regime as a way of improving services and increasing the use of the Welsh language. We must assist organisations and users to offer and take up services. 

The Government's commitment through the co-operation agreement to improve Welsh language services and to give people rights through the standards regime is robust. I drove the standards forward for health regulators through the Senedd before the summer recess, and at the moment we are working on preparing a set of standards for water companies, to continue with the programme that is in that co-operation agreement. 

The annual report also lists some of the things that they have done to influence policy, and the commissioner's role in that regard is very important. We need to remind public bodies—and I include the Government in that—of what can be done to help the Welsh language to prosper by mainstreaming considerations of the Welsh language from the outset in developing policy.

I'm very proud of what we as a Government have achieved over the past year. We've launched the commission for Welsh-speaking communities. We've worked with local authorities on the Welsh in education strategic plans to increase the Welsh language provision across Wales. We've launched a new policy to provide free Welsh lessons for those between 16 and 25, and for the education workforce.

Work is ongoing to establish Adnodd to ensure that there are sufficient resources to support the new curriculum in terms of bilingual and Welsh provision. We're working with the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol to increase the provision of apprenticeships and vocational education through the medium of Welsh. We have also worked with Microsoft to ensure that meetings can be held bilingually with interpretation support on Teams.

At the heart of all of those developments is the Government's focus on increasing the numbers of those who speak Welsh, and increasing the use of the Welsh language. I've said several times since becoming Minister for the Welsh language that the Welsh language belongs to every one of us, here in the Senedd, in the Government and, most importantly, everywhere else in Wales. 

I’m grateful to the Government for allocating time to debate this important report, and I’d like to echo the Minister’s words and pay tribute to Aled Roberts. Aled was an excellent person, not only a talented politician, but a compassionate public servant who was willing to stand up for our Welsh-speaking communities. He understood what our language has to offer modern Wales as we look to the future, a language that had been in decline for years, as if it were being ignored and weakened. But thanks to Aled’s work and the work done by others, these old-fashioned attitudes started to change. Aled loved the language and understood how important it is; he ensured that it received the attention it deserved. This was clear from his work as a Member of the Assembly and throughout his time as Welsh Language Commissioner. Indeed, without Aled’s leadership, I fear that we would not be able to celebrate the language’s success today.

Furthermore, I must pay tribute to the work done by Gwenith Price, deputy Welsh language commissioner. As this annual report notes, Aled’s passing left a void in the commissioner’s office, and Gwenith, alongside her dedicated team, ensured that Aled’s legacy continues. I believe I speak for the whole Siambr when I express our thanks for the dedicated leadership given to this role.

Turning to the report’s contents, it's clear to me that the office of the Welsh Language Commissioner has been active in its role and responsibility and has acted proactively to promote and safeguard our language. Indeed, it gave me a great deal of pleasure to see the Welsh Language Commissioner’s contribution to the International Association of Language Commissioners; it's important that we learn from our linguistic partners, but, through collaboration, we can also help to provide a platform to promote and safeguard the Welsh language. With opportunities such as the Cymru men’s football team’s participation in the world cup, I hope that the Welsh Government and the office of the Welsh Language Commissioner will take full advantage of the attention that Wales will receive, and will take the opportunity to promote the use of our language. 

In addition, I was pleased to see that efforts have been made to modernise the outputs, rooting the language in technological opportunities now available to us. These opportunities include launching a new website for the Welsh Language Commissioner and using podcasts and broadcasts, and these initiatives must continue. In doing so, we are exporting the language beyond its traditional audience and developing a new market of Welsh speakers that we can attract and captivate. 

Indeed, after reading this report, it's clear that Aled, Gwenith and the team have done more than just discharging their responsibilities. If truth be told, they have successfully engendered new interest, to ensure that we forge ahead to reach our target of a million Welsh speakers by 2050. By persevering with this work, and by continuing to establish the Welsh language as a language that belongs to everyone, as the Minister said, I'm confident that we are on the right track to reach our target. Also, good luck to Efa Gruffudd Jones in her new post; she has our support in that role. Thank you.

Thank you to the Minister for the opportunity to discuss this important report today. I'd like to associate myself with the comments made by the Minister and Sam Kurtz in terms of Aled Roberts. Certainly, I think all Members here would agree that his work was respected and admired across the Senedd. The progress outlined in this report is testament to his excellent advocacy for the Welsh language, and it's important that that is recognised on all possible occasions.

I'd also like to echo what's already been said about the work of Gwenith Price, who continues in her role, for the time being. She, in very difficult circumstances, has continued with the work of the commissioner's office and continued to challenge Government, where necessary, but also continued with the positive work of promoting the Welsh language. I also want to wish Efa Gruffudd Jones every success, as she prepares to build on the firm foundations laid by Aled and Gwenith. I wish her well.

In terms of the report, this is the first report since the inception of the co-operation agreement between Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour in November of last year. As a party, we're very proud to work with the Welsh Government to promote a number of key commitments on the prominence, use and accessibility of the Welsh language, to ensure that the Welsh language flourishes across the nation. I agree with you entirely—every time you say it, I repeat it—that the Welsh language belongs to all of us. It's an important message and one that we need to communicate. Certainly, we also need to ensure that the Welsh language is accessible to everyone and that everyone has that opportunity. There are so many things that you've outlined from the co-operation agreement, such as the Welsh language lessons and so on, but there are also challenges. We've discussed a number of challenges in terms of Welsh-medium education, and the Act will be very important in terms of ensuring not only that the Welsh language belongs to us all, but everyone has an opportunity to learn the language and to use the language and to enjoy the language, which is so important.

Although there is some room for optimism in this report, it's also clear that progress in other areas hasn't been as far-reaching as had originally been hoped. Specifically, the report emphasises the need for the objectives and spirit of 'Cymraeg 2050' to be at the heart of every statement, policy and act, if the Government is serious about reaching a million Welsh speakers. And on that basis, Minister, can I ask you to explain how you ensure that this is the case? Clearly, we've seen a decision in the High Court recently, in terms of the English-medium secondary school in the Swansea valley and the failure to assess the impact on Welsh-medium education in that area. How, therefore, are those kinds of things consistent with the 'Cymraeg 2050' strategy?

In her pre-appointment hearing, the new commissioner mentioned the need to prioritise collaboration and support in dealing with bodies subject to the Welsh language standards rather than naming and shaming in the first instance. And, although we recognise the importance of winning hearts and minds, it's also crucial that the commissioner is not prevented from using the robust regulatory mechanisms provided by the Measure in order to ensure that the standards are maintained and, where needed, strengthened. It's also worth emphasising that Welsh Government plans in 2017 to weaken the role of the commissioner in terms of regulatory powers had been harshly criticised at that time, and it's important that we don't waste valuable time rehashing old arguments. I was pleased to hear the Minister mention the importance of the regulatory role. So, I would ask for an assurance that the commissioner will be given all support to deliver the regulatory powers available to her and that she won't be reduced to a role of promotion alone.

Finally, Minister, I'd like to draw your attention to a recent case related to dental staff working for Bupa who were told not to converse through the medium of Welsh at work, which is contrary to the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011. I'm sure you will have seen the statement by the commissioner's office last week on this issue. Do you agree that such cases highlight the need to extend and reinforce Welsh language standards as far as possible, including in the private sector? And will the Minister continue to work with us to deliver against these objectives as soon as possible? Thank you.

Like others, I'd like to start my contribution this afternoon by paying tribute to Aled Roberts. I served here with Aled, and I remember seeing his face on those benches over there, and he was smiling across the Chamber. Whatever people said, he had a smile on his face, and he always had a kind word to say in the tearoom after any debate. It was a pleasure to serve here alongside Aled, and it was a pleasure to work with him afterwards. Politicians like Aled are the best of us, and I know that every single one of us miss him in the time since we lost him. We need more politicians like Aled Roberts who can reach across the political spectrum and who can serve his communities in the way that he did. I remember hearing the news that he had been appointed as Welsh Language Commissioner, and I knew the role was safe in his hands. You knew, whatever the challenges that we were all facing, when someone like Aled serves in a role like that, you can have faith that the role will be filled in a way that we would wish to see. And that is very rare, too often, in politics.

Having said that, I too welcome, of course, the appointment of Efa Gruffydd Jones. She appeared before the culture committee a few weeks ago, and she was robust in the way that she responded to our questions and the way that she discussed policy—Government policy, Welsh language policy, and 'Cymraeg 2050' policy—but also the way that she understood what the needs of the role of commissioner are. And I do think, every time we have a new commissioner, what will the focus of the new commissioner be, where's the policy going to go, and what will the priorities be. I do think that we have to change, sometimes, the focus and the priorities as we move forward to recognise the different context and new context, and to recognise the evolving context with time.

In launching 'Cymraeg 2050' we wanted to see a challenge for the Government. There was a need for the Government to change. The Government wasn't acting in a way that would have supported the Welsh language and in a way that the Government should have supported the language. I was very pleased with the First Minister at the time's support, Carwyn Jones. We knew that things needed to change, and that we as a nation had to be challenged as well, because it's Welsh people who will be speaking Welsh, not just civil servants in Cathays Park. It's the Welsh people who will revive the Welsh language—those of us who already speak the language, who are learning the Welsh language, and who use the Welsh language. I remember talking to Carwyn about how we were going to launch the policy, and members of the Welsh football team came together at a school not far from here. Chris Coleman was the manager at the time, and he talked about how the Football Association of Wales had tried to use the Welsh language, normalising the use of the Welsh language, if you will, during the Euros that had just been held at that time. And we look now towards the next few weeks, and we take pride in seeing Cymru playing in the world cup, and we take pride in the new culture that has grown through the medium of Welsh, and where Welsh is being used completely naturally in supporting the football team. I look forward to supporting Cymru next week, and I look forward to see how we use the Welsh language in doing that. 

When we think about challenging the Government, we also have to challenge each other. And all too often I hear, in the context of policy debate with regard to the language, that we aren't willing to challenge each other. I said this to Cymdeithas yr Iaith a few weeks ago. New work is currently being done, work that is exceptionally important. The appointment of Simon Brooks by the Minister is a very important appointment, and I welcome that. I welcome the tone of the Minister's contribution, and I welcome the way that he's willing to consider how we plan education in the Welsh language for the future. There is a new challenge. 

But I'd also like to offer another challenge in the time remaining to me this afternoon. I think that we need to look at the legislation that we have to support the 'Cymraeg 2050' policy. I don't believe that the standards are adequate. I don't think that the regulatory emphasis is going to promote the Welsh language, or create that confidence to speak the Welsh language. And I'll say this with all respect to Heledd—and I welcome her contribution by the way—but as someone who has learned the Welsh language, may I say this? When I was learning Welsh, I wasn't learning Welsh because there were standards or rights in the background. I wasn't learning Welsh because of the kind of regulation that wasn't happening at the time, as it happens. I was learning Welsh because of what Welsh meant, the nature of the life I could lead through the Welsh language, and the way that the Welsh language can change your life. And I think we need to talk not just with those Welsh people who speak Welsh every day anyway, but those Welsh people who don't speak Welsh, those Welsh people who are learning Welsh at the moment, the Welsh people who don't have the confidence to use the Welsh language every day. That's where the important challenge is. If we can do that—

Alun, you have to conclude now. 

—we won't just be changing Welsh language policy, we won't be changing the Government's approach, but we'll be changing Wales. 

I call on Jeremy Miles to reply to the debate. 

Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you to everyone for their contributions to this important debate on the Welsh Language Commissioner's annual report. I just want to conclude, if I may, by talking about the evolution, as Alun Davies outlined there, which is so important in language policy and how we ensure the prosperity of the language and equal access to it to all those who want to use the language and learn the language, and ensuring opportunities for all. The ability and confidence to review and look again at what we do, and to respond to the context that we face, is very important indeed as we expand opportunities for people.

Language rights are very important. They are important to users of the Welsh language, but it's also very clear that we won't regulate ourselves to the prosperity of the Welsh language. We need some creativity and imagination in how we expand opportunities to use the Welsh language. Heledd Fychan mentioned being restricted to promotion. Promotion is important; commissioners have seen that as an important part of their role across the years, and we need to look at that as a core role, along with regulation.

More than one contributor has mentioned the opportunity that we have in the context of the world cup to extend opportunities to people to learn Welsh, and whether you have 'Cymru' or 'Wales' as your name for the national team, the work that the FAW has been doing with the National Centre for Learning Welsh in providing, in partnership, resources to train the team, FAW staff and football supporters, and players and supporters at grass-roots level has been one of those examples of creativity and thinking outside of the box, in ensuring that we take all possible opportunities to remind people that they have an opportunity to learn Welsh too.

And if I could also agree with Alun's point about the fact that everyone not only has ownership of the Welsh language, but a role in protecting the language too, and that we should all work together towards the targets that we have in 'Cymraeg 2050'. Alongside the work that we do as a Government in collaboration with Plaid Cymru under the co-operation agreement, and in many other ways, I want to see more organisations and public leaders across Wales taking responsibility for the language. Through collaboration, we will ensure that the Welsh language prospers, and we will deliver that goal of ensuring that the Welsh language belongs to everyone and that everyone has an opportunity to learn Welsh and to use Welsh every day. Thank you.

The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? There are no objections, and the motion is therefore agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.